I have been learning Ableton MIDI and the Novation SLMK 25. When I load a drum rack, the cymbals sound like crap. Same with things like Shakers. I have been told to "add reverb" and "drop and EQ module in." But this doesn't help when the original sample (an Ableton instrument) has almost no sound.

The problem is not just with MIDI. I tried recording a drum track from my Electribe onto an Audio track. Same problem: shakers and cymbals do not come thru.

I am starting to suspect my soundcard. I thought when I ditched my crappy Lexicon interface & replaced it with a Tascam 144MK, I would be able to record things with high-frequency percussion.

Any ideas?_________________The most important gear is the brain behind the instrument.

Oh, and another layer to this problem: I found an old Ableton session I did which contains a clip of this same Electribe drum pattern. The shakers sound FINE! So it can't be my sound card...._________________The most important gear is the brain behind the instrument.

So when you are working with this Drum rack, you can't hear the samples or are they over driven? Elaborate on what "sounds like crap" means?_________________"Oh, it's yours? Then go ahead and kick the shit out of it..." as said to Michael Victor by Howard Moscovitz 06/05/05

So when you are working with this Drum rack, you can't hear the samples or are they over driven? Elaborate on what "sounds like crap" means?

Yeah I should have been more specific. I could barely hear them, if at all.

I experimented with this for awhile. Tried putting an auto-filter or an EQ module in my cymbal track. Didn't help.
Finally realized the problem might be that I have an Auto Filter in my Master track on Ableton. The frequency & reso are mapped to 2 knobs on my SLMKI and I use this for cutoff effects on my instruments. The problem with knobs that effect ALL the instruments... when these knobs are set to the 'middle' position (12 oclock) and my instruments sound normal... this could be cutting off most of those hi freq sounds on things like cymbals & shakers!

When I turned off the filter module in the master track, the cymbals sounded just FINE!!!

which sort of solved THIS problem but left me with ANOTHER problem... how can I set up a "universal" auto filter control that I can easily grab, rather than having to stick one in every single instrument I use?

Hmmm.... non MIDI synths were so much less complicated....

Wellll, there IS another way... forget about cymbals & percussion in Ableton.... just use the Electribe._________________The most important gear is the brain behind the instrument.

You can always use your send-returns for that Auto Filter. That way you can play with it per track rather than that specific effect on your Master channel. Another option is Side Chaining.

Yes, your other option to use the ESX will work, but can perhaps limit you on your cymbal and shaker options. I'd encourage you to tough it out and explore your options in Abe._________________"Oh, it's yours? Then go ahead and kick the shit out of it..." as said to Michael Victor by Howard Moscovitz 06/05/05

You cannot post new topics in this forumYou cannot reply to topics in this forumYou cannot edit your posts in this forumYou cannot delete your posts in this forumYou cannot vote in polls in this forumYou cannot attach files in this forumYou can download files in this forum

Please support our site. If you click through and buy from our affiliate partners, we earn a small commission.